Container for a refrigerated liquid transport system

ABSTRACT

A refrigerated liquid transport system is disclosed, which comprises a refrigerated container configured to be loaded with unit loads (200), a unit load (200) comprising a pallet (20) supporting at least one layer of ten liquid containers (300), each liquid container (300) having side walls (303) connected to one another by rounded edge portions (304), in which the main faces (303′) of adjacent side walls (303) are generally mutually perpendicular; the upper side wall (301) comprises at least one recessed portion (315) containing an opening (312) able to be closed by an accordingly adjusted plug and at least one handle (313) above the bottom of the recess, the top of the handle (313) being either level with the main face of the upper side wall (301), or below same; and wherein the main faces of the liquid container (300) define a rectangular cuboid geometry with width of at least 250 mm and length of at least 380 mm, and a height, for example, of 440 mm, 365 mm or 310 mm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for the transport of liquid goods in general, and in particular to systems for transporting hazardous liquid goods, in particular organic peroxides, under refrigerated conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid goods, and in particular hazardous liquid goods such as organic peroxides, are usually kept in containers of small nominal capacities like for instance jerrycans holding 20 l, 30 l, 50 l or the like. Distributing larger quantities of a liquid among several individual containers reduces the sloshing amplitudes of the liquid during shipment as compared to the entire liquid being received in one big container only, and thus minimizes the risk of any build up of uneven weight distributions during transport. The nominal capacity of an individual container is generally somewhat smaller than its actual volume to allow for gases possibly developing from the liquid held therein to be received in the excess volume without any build up of excessive pressure that would jeopardize the transport.

However, distributing a liquid to be shipped among several individual containers reduces only the risk of an uneven weight distribution building up on a moving transport means due to the liquid sloshing around, and not the risk originating from the containers themselves possibly moving on the transport means.

When shipping hazardous liquids, special legal provisions from national and international authorities have to be observed. The recommendations concerning the transport of hazardous materials published by the United Nations e.g. represent a standard that is met by various national and international regulations. Organic peroxides like many other liquid chemicals may for instance cause fire and explosion at too high temperatures. The shipping of such liquids is therefore to be effected under refrigerated conditions, usually by stowing the containers holding the respective liquid in one or more reefers.

To minimize the risk of the liquid holding containers moving around in a reefer when shipped, several individual containers are usually bundled into a package, e.g. by wrapping a stretch wrap or a stretch film around a closely packed bundle of individual containers. To improve the handling of the container bundle, the bundle is usually fixed on a transportation pallet like a EUR-pallet to form a unit load suited for being moved around, loaded and unloaded using a forklift. EUR-pallets have a loading area of 1200 mm×800 mm and are eligible for the European Pallet Pool.

The size of EUR-pallets is, however, not suited for an optimum usage of the loading area of 5042 mm by 2300 mm available in reefers commonly used for transporting hazardous liquids.

It is therefore desirable to provide a refrigerated liquid transport system that facilitates loading and unloading the system with the liquid and prevents any hazard caused by a possible dislocation of the liquid during transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The basic element of a respective system is a container whose outer dimensions provide an optimum utilization of a reefer's loading space while further providing for a buffer zone large enough to allow for a possible bulging of the container when filled and clearances needed for safely placing the containers inside the reefer's loading space.

When determining the clearances needed for an effective but still safe loading and unloading of the reefer, a sensible balance between a facilitation of the loading and unloading processes and a prevention of a dangerous dislocation of the cargo (i.e. the liquid containers) has to be found. Any movement of the liquid containers inside the reefer should not exceed 25 mm along the width (short side) of the reefer's loading space and 50 mm along the length (long side) of the reefer's loading space, i.e. less than 1% of the reefer's dimension in either of its lateral directions. The reason for the clearance allowed in the short side direction being smaller than in the lengthwise direction is the fact that the reefer is transported along its lengthwise direction so that lateral weight shifts, i.e. weight shifts along its short side direction, have a greater impact on a transport vehicle's stability than longitudinal shifts, i.e. weight shifts along the reefer's lengthwise direction. The small clearances also ensure that a shifting cargo will not gain enough kinetic energy to endanger the stability of the transport means.

For enabling a loading and unloading of the reefer with conventional forklifts, the containers should be arrangeable in unit loads whose lateral maximum dimensions do not exceed 1500 mm. The containers should furthermore not be designed too slim in order to avoid them being tipped over accidentally. The short side of a container should therefore not be less than about half the container's height. The liquid holding capacity of a container could be for example 30 l, 25 l or 20 l. Although the height of a container is, for a given holding capacity and a prescribed additional volume, a function of its lateral dimensions, it should be designed to make a maximum use of the reefer's usable loading space height, which is 2500 mm, leaving some space in the reefer for lifting the unit loads upon loading and unloading and permitting the circulation of cooling air inside the reefer.

The inventors have found that the above conditions can be met by a liquid container in the form of a jerrycan designed to fit in an individual cargo space having a length of 380 mm, a width of 250 mm, and for example a height of 440 mm (nominal capacity of 30 l), a height of 365 mm (nominal capacity of 25 l), or a height of 310 mm (nominal capacity of 20 l). The actual lateral dimensions of the jerrycan are of course somewhat smaller to allow a bulging of the jerrycan's sidewalls when filled to their maximum capacity. The term “jerrycan” is used in this document in conformity with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and refers to a metal or plastics packaging of rectangular or polygonal cross-section with one or more orifices.

Thus the invention relates to a liquid container, in particular for transport under refrigerated conditions, having sidewalls connected to each other by rounded edge portions, wherein the main faces of adjacent sidewalls are generally perpendicular to each other; the top sidewall comprises at least one recessed portion containing an orifice adapted for being closed by a cap in a form fit and at least one handle above the bottom of the recess, the top of the handle being either flush with the main face of the top sidewall or located beneath it; and wherein the main faces of the liquid container define a rectangular cuboid geometry having a width of less than 250 mm and a length of less than 380 mm.

By filling the loading space of a reefer with such jerrycans, six cans can be stored along the short side of the reefer and twenty cans along the long side of the reefer, with the length of the jerrycans aligned in parallel with the short side direction and the width of the jerrycans aligned in parallel with the long side direction of the reefer. The unused spaces or clearances in the container will then amount to 20 mm along the reefer's width and to 42 mm along the reefer's length, and are thus within the limits described above. When packing for example jerrycans having a capacity of 30 l in unit loads of 5 layers of jerrycans stacked above each other, 300 mm are left in height allowing to use a pallet (preferably 150 mm in height) as a base for each unit load and still providing enough room for an easy lifting of each unit load upon loading and unloading. Even when using two different unit loads stacked upon each other, one unit load formed by one pallet carrying three layers of jerrycans and the other unit load formed by one pallet carrying two layers of jerrycans, there is still a clearance of 20 mm left which eases any lifting of the unit loads when loaded or unloaded.

A liquid container forming the basic element of a refrigerated liquid transport system as specified above comprises sidewalls connected to each other by rounded edge portions, whereby the main faces of adjacent sidewalls are generally perpendicular to each other. The top sidewall of a respective liquid container comprises at least one recessed portion containing an orifice adapted for being closed using a cap. The closure is implemented in a form fit manner to allow the orifice to be opened and closed repeatedly. The top sidewall further includes at least one handle located above the bottom of the recess allowing the liquid container to be carried by a person. The top of the handle is either flush with the main face of the top sidewall or located beneath it, so that the bottom sidewall of a liquid container of the same kind can steadily rest on the liquid container's top sidewall. The main faces of the liquid container define or form part of a rectangular cuboid geometry having a width of less than 250 mm, a length of less than 380 mm, and a height of for example about 440 mm for a nominal 30 l capacity, a height of about 365 mm for a nominal 25 l capacity, and a height of about 310 mm for a nominal 20 l capacity. It will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art that the height of a liquid container can easily be adapted to the nominal capacity desired for the container.

The term “main face” is hereby used to refer to that part of a sidewall that defines a face of a rectangular cuboid representing the storage volume occupied by the liquid container. The term “generally perpendicular” includes angles ranging from 80° to 100°. When a main face is oriented vertically or horizontally in the case of a container being placed on a horizontal area, the main face forms part of the cuboid geometry, otherwise it just defines the cuboid geometry by bordering on it.

A liquid container having features as specified above can be filled up to its nominal capacity, i.e. with up to 30 l, 25 l or 20 l of a liquid, whereby the liquid will then occupy about 90%, in some cases up to 94% of the space enclosed by the container. The volume not used by the liquid can receive gases released from the liquid, thereby reducing the risk of excessive pressure building up in the container.

It should be noted in this context that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “containing”, “having” and “with”, as well as grammatical modifications thereof used in this specification or the claims for listing features, are generally to be considered to specify a non-exhaustive listing of features like for instance components, method steps, ranges, dimensions or the like, and by no means preclude any presence or addition of one or more other features or one or more other groups of other or additional features.

The term “refrigerated” is understood to mean conditions that enable a desired temperature of a product to be maintained. Said temperature is preferably between −30° C. and +30° C.

Preferably, the liquid container as defined above comprises at least one organic peroxide. Thus, preferably, said liquid container comprises a liquid comprising and consisting of at least one organic peroxide. Said at least one peroxide may be pure or present in an organic or aqueous solvent.

A further element of a refrigerated liquid transport system as specified above is a pallet providing a loading area of 1200 to 1300 mm in length, preferably of 1230 to 1270 mm in length, preferably of 1240 to 1260 mm in length and more preferentially of 1250 mm in length and of 710 to 810 mm in width, preferably of 740 to 780 mm in width, preferably of 750 to 770 mm in width and more preferentially of 760 mm in width. The height of the pallet is preferably 100 to 200 mm, preferably 130 to 170 mm, preferably 140 to 160 mm and more preferentially 150 mm allowing the pallet to be handled with conventional forklifts.

To form a unit load, ten liquid containers are placed on the pallet side by side in a way that the containers cover the pallet's loading area. The liquid containers are preferably fixed on the pallet using e. g. a stretch wrap or stretch film. A side by side arrangement of liquid containers covering an area corresponding to the loading area of the above pallet is in the following referred to as a layer of liquid containers. Other forms of unit loads have two or more layers of liquid containers placed on the above defined pallet, in particular two, three or five layers. In particular, when using liquid containers with a capacity of 30 l, unit loads with up to 5 layers of liquid containers placed on an above defined pallet can be formed. When using liquid containers with a 25 l capacity, unit loads with 6 layers of liquid containers may be formed, and when using liquid containers with a 20 l capacity, unit loads with 7 layers of liquid containers may be formed.

The refrigerated liquid transport system further comprises a reefer adapted to cool the cargo placed in its inside. The reefer is loaded with at least one unit load as defined above and as many of the above defined pallets as required to fill the loading space of the reefer. The pallets may be part of a unit load, but not necessarily.

The invention is furthermore disclosed with specific features such that:

-   -   the rectangular cuboid geometry has a width of 225 mm or more         and a length of 360 mm or more;     -   the rectangular cuboid geometry has a height of 440 mm, a height         of 365 mm, or a height of 310 mm;     -   the length of the rectangular cuboid is in the range from 364 mm         to 372 mm, preferably in the range from 366 mm to 370 mm, and is         ideally 368 mm, and the width of the rectangular cuboid is in         the range from 228 mm to 234 mm, preferably in the range from         239 mm to 233 mm, and is ideally 231 mm;     -   one or more protrusions are formed in the main face of the top         sidewall, the protrusions having a frustumlike shape, and a         number of recesses are formed in the main face of the bottom         sidewall of the liquid container, with the number and positions         of the recesses corresponding to the number and positions of         protrusions formed on the main face of the top sidewall and the         shape of each recess being complementary to that of its         corresponding protrusion;     -   a rounded edge portion has a convex curvature with a radius of         between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably of between 35 mm and 50 mm,         and ideally of between 40 and 46 mm;     -   the curvature of a rounded edge portion is convex at the         transition to a sidewall and comprises a flat or concave section         between the two convex sections or is entirely concave;     -   at least one sidewall different from the top sidewall is formed         with a stiffening structure;     -   the material of the container is high-density polyethylene         (HDPE).

The liquid container according to the invention is formed by extrusion blow molding.

The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a liquid container according to the present invention, comprising a step of extrusion blow molding of a material, preferably high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The invention relates also to a pallet providing a loading area of 1200 to 1300 mm in length, preferably of 1230 to 1270 mm in length, preferably of 1240 to 1260 mm in length and more preferentially of 1250 mm in length and of 710 to 810 mm in width, preferably of 740 to 780 mm in width, preferably of 750 to 770 mm in width and more preferentially of 760 mm in width. The height of the pallet is preferably 100 to 200 mm, preferably 130 to 170 mm, preferably 140 to 160 mm and more preferentially 150 mm.

The invention relates also to a system comprising at least one unit load comprising a pallet as indicated above and at least ten liquid containers as mentioned above placed side by side on the loading area of the pallet.

In this system, the unit load may comprise at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 layers of liquid containers stacked upon each other on the pallet, each layer of liquid containers being composed of ten individual liquid containers arranged side by side.

This system may further comprise a reefer loaded with at least one unit load as defined above and a number of pallets as defined above required to fill the loading space of the reefer.

The system may comprise a reefer loaded with twelve first load units arranged side by side and twelve second load units arranged side by side, all of the second load units being placed on top or beneath the first load units, each of the first load units containing a pallet as defined above and a first number of layers of liquid containers, each of the second load units containing a pallet as defined above and a second number of layers of liquid containers, with a layer of liquid containers being composed of ten liquid containers arranged side by side, whereby the first number is 3 and the second number is 2 when the height of the liquid containers is 440 mm, the first number is 3 and the second number is 3 when the height of the liquid containers is 365 mm, and the first number is 4 and the second number is 3 when the height of the liquid containers is 310 mm.

The system may comprise a reefer loaded with twelve load units arranged side by side, each of the load units containing a pallet as defined above and a number of layers of liquid containers, with a layer of liquid containers being composed of ten liquid containers arranged side by side and the number of layers of liquid containers being 5, when the height of the liquid containers is 440 mm, 6, when the height of the liquid containers is 365 mm, and 7, when the height of the liquid containers is 310 mm.

Embodiments of a respective refrigerated liquid transport system comprise a reefer loaded with twelve first load units arranged side by side and twelve second load units arranged side by side, all of the second load units being placed on top or beneath the first load units, each of the first load units containing a pallet such as the one explained above and a first number of layers of liquid containers, each of the second load units containing a pallet such as the one explained above and a second number of layers of liquid containers, with a layers of liquid containers being composed of ten liquid containers arranged side by side, whereby the first number is 3 and the second number is 2 when the height of the liquid containers is 440 mm, the first number is 3 and the second number is 3 when the height of the liquid containers is 365 mm, and the first number is 4 and the second number is 3 when the height of the liquid containers is 310 mm. A respective embodiment of a refrigerated liquid transport system may further comprise a venting system of which some components are placed within the voids formed between the edges of adjacent liquid containers.

Other embodiments of a respective refrigerated liquid transport system comprise a reefer loaded with twelve load units arranged side by side, each of the load units containing a pallet providing a loading area of 1200 to 1300 mm in length, preferably of 1230 to 1270 mm in length, preferably of 1240 to 1260 mm in length and more preferentially of 1250 mm in length and of 710 to 810 mm in width, preferably of 740 to 780 mm in width, preferably of 750 to 770 mm in width and more preferentially of 760 mm in width and a number of layers of liquid containers, with a layer of liquid containers being composed of ten liquid containers arranged side by side and the number of layers of liquid containers being 5, when the height of the liquid containers is 440 mm, 6, when the height of the liquid containers is 365 mm, and 7, when the height of the liquid containers is 310 mm.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the width of the rectangular cuboid defined by the main faces of the liquid container's sidewalls is not smaller than 225 mm and its length not smaller than 360 mm. Preferably, the dimensions of an above liquid container are such that the rectangular cuboid defined by the main faces of the liquid container's sidewalls has a length ranging from 364 mm to 372 mm, preferably from 366 mm to 370 mm, and is ideally 368 mm. The width of the rectangular cuboid is hereby in the range from 228 mm to 234 mm, preferably from 239 mm to 233 mm, and is ideally 231 mm. These sizes allow for a bulging of the filled liquid container while ensuring that the volume required by a respectively bulged liquid container does not exceed the dimensions of an individual storage space of 380 mm by 250 mm by 440 mm.

Embodiments may favourably have one or more protrusions formed in the main face of the top sidewall, the protrusions having a frustumlike shape. Respective embodiments have further a number of recesses formed in the main face of the bottom sidewall of the liquid container, with the number and positions of the recesses corresponding to the number and positions of protrusions formed on the main face of the top sidewall and the shape of each recess being complementary to that of its corresponding protrusion. A respective configuration of the top and bottom sidewalls provides a form fit between a first liquid container and a second liquid container that is placed on top of the first liquid container which prevents the second liquid container from a lateral movement relative to the first liquid container.

Embodiments may suitably comprise a rounded edge portion having a convex curvature with a radius of between 5 mm and 50 mm, and preferably of between 35 mm and 50 mm, and ideally of between 40 and 46 mm, which help to reduce local stress owing to mechanical load imposed on the container's body by the liquid received therein or from outside. The term “convex” is used in its conventional meaning, i.e. curving up and bulging outwards. Correspondingly rounded edges provide some space between the liquid containers for improving the circulation of cooling air inside the reefer and providing a venting capability for harmful gases possibly developing during transport, thereby improving the overall transport safety. At least part of the space may also be used for an installation of a venting system coupled to the interior of the containers.

Embodiments may also comprise rounded edge portions being convex at their transitions to a sidewall but comprising a flat or concave (curved inwardly) section between the opposed convex sections or being entirely concave. This allows for a tubing to be placed between and fixed by the liquid containers that may for instance be used as part of a venting system like the one described U.S. Pat. No. 8,701,698 B2 assigned to Arkema France. Respective edge portions may advantageously have two concave sections sandwiching a convex section between them such that the edge's cross section has a corrugated form not extending beyond an outer arc-shaped envelope having a radius of 40 mm and an inner arc-shaped envelope having a radius 46 mm.

Embodiments may have at least one sidewall that is not the top sidewall formed with a stiffening structure. The stiffening structure may be formed by for instance one or more sidewall areas located closer to the center of the container than the sidewall's main area, so that the walls connecting these areas with the sidewall's main area improve the sidewall's stiffness resulting in a reduced bulging of the sidewall under pressure.

Embodiments have the liquid container made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This material is chemically resistant, impact resistant, and provides the necessary mechanical strength.

Preferred embodiments are formed by extrusion blow molding to enable a cost effective large-scale production.

The present invention also relates to the use of a liquid container, of a pallet or of a system, all as defined above, for transporting organic peroxides, in particular under refrigerated conditions.

The present invention also relates to the use of a liquid container, of a pallet or of a system, all as defined above, for transporting liquid products, in particular dangerous liquid products, more particularly organic peroxides, under refrigerated conditions.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, the claims, and the attached Figures. It is noted that embodiments of the present invention may implement the features described below in the context of particular embodiments in different combinations than provided by the exemplary embodiments. The present invention is therefore only limited by the scope of the attached claims and not by any of the exemplary embodiments below.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

When explaining the present invention in more detail with respect to special embodiments, reference is made to the enclosed drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a top view onto a reefer's loading area subdivided into subareas conforming to the present refrigerated liquid transport system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a unit load formed by placing liquid containers conforming to the present refrigerated liquid transport system onto a pallet whose lateral dimensions correspond to the above subareas; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a liquid container conforming to the present refrigerated liquid transport system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the exemplary embodiments described below, components that are alike in function and structure are referenced as far as possible by like reference numerals. Therefore, to understand the functions of the individual components of a specific embodiment, the description of other embodiments and the summary of the invention should be referred to.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a reefer's loading area 100 with the subareas reserved for the placement of unit loads 200 conforming to the present refrigerated liquid transport system. The width of the loading area 100 is 2300 mm, the length of the loading area 5042 mm. The term reefer used here refers to a refrigerated container used in inter-modal freight transport for the transportation of temperature sensitive cargo.

The loading area 100 is divided into twelve subareas 10 of 1250 mm by 760 mm each. The longer side of each subarea 10 is in parallel with the long side, the shorter side with the short side of the reefer's loading area. Each subarea defines a loading area conforming to the present refrigerated liquid transport system. The difference between the area occupied by the subareas and the reefer's loading area is 42 mm along the long side and 20 mm along the short side. These clearances allow for tolerances in the dimensions of the unit loads and in particular of the pallets described further below as well as for some maneuvering space required to place the unit loads into the reefer using motorized tools like a forklift or others. It is noted that the unused loading area is, due to its minimal size, not visible in FIG. 1.

One of the subareas 10 is shown in FIG. 1 to be occupied by a unit load 200, which is shown in further detail in FIG. 2. The unit load 200 comprises a pallet 20 providing a loading area of 1250 mm by 760 mm. The height of the pallet is preferably the same as or close to that of a EUR-pallet, i.e. 150 mm. The corners of the pallet's loading area may be rounded or chamfered, the edges beveled. The pallet is preferably configured as a four-way pallet.

The liquid containers 300 conforming to the refrigerated liquid transport system are placed side by side on the top of the pallet's loading area such that the long sides of each liquid container 300 are in parallel with the short sides of the pallet 20 and the short sides of each liquid container are in parallel with the long sides of the pallet 20. The orifices of the liquid containers may be aligned as shown. When a venting system (not shown in the Figures) is used to control the pressure inside the liquid containers 300, the containers 300 are, however, preferably arranged with their orifices facing each other so that the venting tubes can be mounted well protected inside a unit load.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a liquid container 300 conforming to the present refrigerated liquid transport system in a perspective view.

The liquid container 300 forms a body having a top sidewall 301, a bottom sidewall 302 (not visible in the Figure), and four generally vertically oriented sidewalls 303 located between the top and the bottom sidewall. Rounded edge portions 304, 304(f) connect the sidewalls to each other. Each vertically oriented sidewall comprises a main face 303′, defining a face of a rectangular cuboid representing the storage volume occupied by the liquid container. In other words, the main faces of the sidewalls define or even are part of a rectangular cuboid geometry representing the storage volume occupied by the jerrycanlike liquid container 300. The main face (which is not visible in FIG. 3) of the bottom sidewall 302 corresponds to the surface on which the container 300 rests. The main face 301′ is formed by the outermost top surface of the top sidewall 301, whereby possible protrusions 311 extending from the top main face 301′ are not taken into account. The top main face 301′ has a U-shaped form, surrounding a recessed part 315 of the top sidewall.

Unlike the other sidewalls, the top sidewall 301 is configured with an orifice 312 and a handle 313. The orifice 312 is preferably located close to the front edge 304(f) forming the transition between the top and the front sidewall. This enables a complete emptying of the container 300. Embodiments have the orifice 312 configured to cooperate with a closure (not shown in the Figures), for instance a screw closure like a screw cap or screw plug. Other embodiments have the orifice configured to cooperate with a bayonet cap. To avoid the closure of the orifice 312 to interfere with another liquid container placed on top of the top sidewall 301, the orifice is disposed in a recess 315. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the orifice is part of a spoutlike nozzle, the height of which is lower than the depth of the recess 315, i.e. the vertical dimension of the recess. When the container is closed, the topmost part of the closure does not extend beyond the main face 301′ of the top sidewall 301. To avoid any mechanical impact on the closure, the topmost part of it is, when properly mounted, preferably located below the top main face 301′. The handle 313 is disposed above the bottom of the recess 315 with one end of it merging into the rear face of the recess 315, and the other end forming a mechanical link to the bottom of the recess 315 near the nozzle providing the orifice 312. For ease of handling, the handle is equally spaced from the side faces of the recess 315 and there is some clearance between the handle and the bottom of the recess.

To reduce the risk of a container 300 placed on top slipping from the top sidewall 301 due to lateral forces acting on it, protrusions 311 may be formed in the top main face 301′. The protrusions 311 extend vertically from the top main face 301′ but are not part of that face, since they are to be received in complementarily designed recesses (not visible in the Figures) formed in the bottom main face of a container 300 placed on the top main face 301′, and therefore do not contribute to the storage volume occupied by the liquid container 300. Together with the recesses of a container 300 placed on top, the protrusions 311 form a form fit preventing a lateral movement of the upper container relative to the lower container. The protrusions usually have a frustumlike shape, i.e. a tapered geometry with a polygonal or round base and a corresponding polygonal rounded top face of smaller dimensions.

The main faces 303′ may be oriented vertically for a container 300 being placed on a horizontal area. One face or all of them may also be slightly inclined so that the circumference of the container 300 decreases towards its top sidewall. In this case, the respective sidewall or sidewalls do not form part of the rectangular cuboid geometry defining the storage space needed for the empty container 300. The dimensions of the rectangular cuboid geometry are then defined by the outermost limits of the respective main face(s).

The dimensions of the rectangular cuboid geometry are thus, that its width is within a range from 225 mm and less than 250 mm, its length within a range from 360 to less than 380 mm and its height 440 mm or slightly less (30 l capacity), 365 mm or slightly less (25 l capacity), or 310 mm or slightly less (20 l capacity). The term “slightly less” is to be understood as not more than 5 mm. To allow for a bulging of the filled container 300, the length of the rectangular cuboid is advantageously in the range from 364 mm to 372 mm, preferably in the range from 366 mm to 370 mm, and is ideally 368 mm, and wherein the width of the rectangular cuboid is in the range from 228 mm to 234 mm, preferably in the range from 239 mm to 233 mm, and is ideally 231 mm.

While the description explains the present invention with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth herein serve to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit it in any way. Various changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A liquid container for transport under refrigerated conditions, the container comprising sidewalls connected to each other by rounded edge portions, wherein main faces of adjacent sidewalls are generally perpendicular to each other; and wherein a top sidewall comprises at least one recessed portion containing an orifice adapted for being closed by a cap in a form fit and at least one handle disposed above a bottom surface of the recess, wherein a top of the handle is either flush with a main face of the top sidewall or located beneath it; and wherein main faces of the sidewalls of the liquid container define a rectangular cuboid geometry having a width of less than 250 mm and a length of less than 380 mm.
 20. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rectangular cuboid geometry has a width of 225 mm or more and a length of 360 mm or more.
 21. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rectangular cuboid geometry has a height of 440 mm, a height of 365 mm, or a height of 310 mm.
 22. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein the length of the rectangular cuboid is in the range from 364 mm to 372 mm and the width of the rectangular cuboid is in the range from 228 mm to 234 mm.
 23. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein one or more protrusions are formed in the main face of the top sidewall, the protrusions having a frustum like shape, and wherein a number of recesses are formed in a main face of a bottom main wall of the liquid container, with the number and positions of the recesses corresponding to the number and positions of protrusions formed on the main face of the top sidewall and the shape of each recess being complementary to that of its corresponding protrusion.
 24. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein a rounded edge portion has a convex curvature with a radius of between 5 mm and 50 mm.
 25. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein a curvature of a rounded edge portion is convex at a transition to a sidewall and comprises a flat or concave section between the two convex sections or is entirely concave.
 26. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one sidewall different from the top sidewall is formed with a stiffening structure.
 27. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, wherein the material of the container is a high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
 28. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, formed by extrusion blow molding.
 29. The liquid container as claimed in claim 19, comprising at least one organic peroxide.
 30. A pallet providing a loading area of 1200 to 1300 mm in length.
 31. A system comprising at least one unit load comprising a pallet providing a loading area of 1200 to 1300 mm in length and at least ten liquid containers as claimed in claim 19 placed side by side on the loading area of the pallet.
 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the unit load comprises at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 layers of liquid containers stacked upon each other on a pallet providing a loading area of 1200 to 1300 mm in length, each layer of liquid containers being composed of ten individual liquid containers arranged side by side.
 33. The system as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a reefer comprising a loading space, wherein the reefer is loaded with at least one unit load and a number of pallets required to fill the loading space of the reefer.
 34. The system as claimed in claim 33, comprising a reefer loaded with twelve first load units arranged side by side and twelve second load units arranged side by side, all of the second load units being placed on top or beneath the first load units, each of the first load units containing a pallet and a first number of layers of liquid containers, each of the second load units containing a pallet and a second number of layers of liquid containers, with a layer of liquid containers being composed often liquid containers arranged side by side, whereby the first number is 3 and the second number is 2 when the height of the liquid containers is 440 mm, the first number is 3 and the second number is 3 when the height of the liquid containers is 365 mm, and the first number is 4 and the second number is 3 when the height of the liquid containers is 310 mm.
 35. The system as claimed in claim 34, comprising a reefer loaded with twelve load units arranged side by side, each of the load units containing a pallet and a number of layers of liquid containers, with a layer of liquid containers being composed of ten liquid containers arranged side by side and the number of layers of liquid containers being 5, when the height of the liquid containers is 440 mm, 6, when the height of the liquid containers is 365 mm, and 7, when the height of the liquid containers is 310 mm. 